this is bbc news. the headlines at 7pm: new year celebrations are underway around the world. australia welcomed in 2017 with a spectacular display of fireworks over the sydney harbour bridge. security is stepped up for new year celebrations in major cities around the world. in london, thousands of extra police are deployed. and that heavy police presence is both a reassurance to people watching the fireworks here in central london and a reminder of the security threat. 100,000 people will pack the viewing areas over the next six hours to see in 2017 in style. the un security council unanimously endorses the ceasefire in syria brokered by russia and turkey. britian‘s olympic and paralympic stars are recognised in the new year's honours. with a knighthood for andy murray. with a knighthood for andy murrayli feel with a knighthood for andy murray.” feel more still like andy murray. it feels obviously more normal to me. but obviously it is a big honour,

i'm happy with that. it's a nice way to finish or start the new year. and why you'll have to wait a second longer to welcome in the new year. good evening, and welcome to bbc news. celebrations have begun around the world to welcome in 2017. this was the scene in sydney earlier, where officials say it was the city's biggest ever fireworks display. about 1.5 million people have been celebrating by the opera house. and in hong kong a few hours ago, a similarly elaborate display as the sky along the waterfront lit up with thousands of fireworks. earlier, the city had seen pro—democracy rallies against the government, but revellers came together to celebrate. aside from the celebrations, security has been stepped up in major cities as the world marks the start of the new year. concrete barriers are blocking off

central squares in paris, madrid and new york in a bid to prevent terror attacks. i think we have some pictures to show you from berlin, which show the heightened security checks following the terror earlier this month. concrete barriers have gone up near central squares in many cities. in cities including london, thousands of extra police are being deployed ahead of new year celebrations. helena lee reports. closing off parts of london ahead of the celebrations — the barriersjust one part of tonight's security operation in the capital. the metropolitan police says it's not had any specific intelligence to point to an attack in london, but they have looked at berlin and nice and what happened there and adjusted their plans. we spent a long time carefully planning this operation with our partners, they include the mayor's office, westminster city council and others to make sure people can come into london and have a fantastic time. when they come to give us extra

time, because there will be a search regime in place. there will be something like 3,000 police on duty in central london alone and there will be stewards as well. there will also be more armed officers on patrol around london than in previous years. more areas too where vehicles are banned. greater manchester police and other forces say they have also stepped up crowd protection measures after the berlin attack. in other cities too across europe and the world, security has been stepped up. this is new york, those celebrating there will see a very visible police presence. in berlin, it's a similar picture — concrete barriers to stop another potential truck attack. in her new year's eve address the german chancellor, angela merkel, promised to do everything possible to improve security. translation: the biggest test without a doubt is islamist terrorism, which has had germany in its sights for many years.

in 2016 it attacked us in two places and at the christmas market here in berlin. back in london, around 100,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's fireworks display. the police say they hope those out tonight will be reassured by the range of security tactics they will be using. 0ur correspondentjonathan blake is in central london for us. well, as you join me, the first of the 100,000 or so people who have tickets to watch the fireworks here in central london are making their way into the viewing areas. we are on the embankment, and the banks of the river thames. this is where people will be able to watch the fireworks display from up close, they will also be lining the bridges across the thames as well. the london eye behind me will be very

much the centrepiece of the display, as always. there will be three barges on the river packed with around 30 tonnes worth of equipment, which are needed to put on this huge display. that extra security you we re display. that extra security you were hearing about the report is both a reassurance for people who are coming into central london the night, but also a reminder of security threat. around three years ago, the authorities here in london started to celtic for the event rather than allowing anybody who wa nted rather than allowing anybody who wanted to come into town —— started to sell tickets. it got far too big to sell tickets. it got far too big to be manageable. the idea is that everybody with the quuel—bettan to see the fireworks up close. as for the display itself —— everybody with a ticket will be able to see the fireworks. there is a carefully chosen soundtrack, and we are told that this year it will pay tribute and reflect on some of the musical artists who have died over the last 12 months. expect tracks from david bowie on prince. behind me, the music has started and people are

starting to make their way to the viewing areas, ready to watch the fireworks up close. thank you, jonathan blake in central london. 0ur correspondent andrew black is in edinburgh, as the city makes its final preparations for the hogmanay celebrations. well, we're down here on princes street in edinburgh, right in the middle of the city. it looks reasonably quiet at the moment. but just ina reasonably quiet at the moment. but just in a few hours' time, we are going to see the start of what has become known as one of the world's biggest and best—known street parties here in edinburgh. in fact, the night's event is sold out, we are going to see some 75,000 but revellers from 80 countries all over the world who come here to see in 2017. there is plenty of stuff going on, live music and stages on princes street itself. i'm joined now by al thompson, who is in charge of organising the whole event. i guess this is after a long build—up, this is the big night for you? yes, a year of is the big night for you? yes, a yearof build—up

is the big night for you? yes, a year of build—up actually, it takes us year of build—up actually, it takes us 12 months to plan each year to get where we are. we started last night, we have three days celebrations here in edinburgh. we had paolo and a teeny perform his sold—out show last night. he is doing another one just behind us beneath edinburgh castle tonight. we will have 75,000 people in the city ce ntre will have 75,000 people in the city centre coming from 80 countries around the world to celebrate here in edinburgh. i guess the edinburgh street party has become bigger and bigger every year. and it is actually something about the city of edinburgh is very proud of hosting 110w. edinburgh is very proud of hosting now. we are proud of all of our festivals. we have major festivals taking place all throughout the year. hogmanay is just taking place all throughout the year. hogmanay isjust one of those. tonight at midnight we will be celebrating not only 2017 but the 17th anniversary of the edinburgh festivals are the here in the city. it continues to inspire people around the city and also beyond who come here to celebrate. the resource are come here to celebrate. the resource a re lots of come here to celebrate. the resource are lots of stages on princes street here as well. it's notjust about

standing around and drinking beer. there are plenty of bands to go and watch stop law we have a four—hour show taking place throughout the city centre. the stages, live music, the charlatans will be playing on one of the stages along with other bands from across the uk and scotland. it'sjust bands from across the uk and scotland. it's just a bands from across the uk and scotland. it'sjust a real party atmosphere, that is by people coming year. midnight is the main moment, but we build on that with as much entertainment as we can. midnight is the big crescendo with the firework display, which is a pretty big thing in itself. we have for firework displays the night. we start at 9p. every hour we have a firework display which signals the old building up to midnight. tonight we have for the first time a light and laser show which is going to go on for a full seven minute display, the biggest we have ever produced from edinburgh castle. it will be seen from 30 miles away from edinburgh. it all sounds fantastic. as i was just saying events kick off at 9p pm tonight. if issue lead big build—up tonight. if issue lead big build—up to midnight of course was really a

wee bit earlier on today —— officially the big build—up. it looks like the weather will be clear this evening and we are in for a pretty spectacular one. andrew black in edinburgh. in the last few hour, the united nations has adopted a resolution supporting efforts by russia and turkey to end the violence in syria and jump—start peace negotiations. however, rebel groups have threatened to abandon a nationwide ceasefire if government forces continue to attack areas under their control. that deadline has now passed. with me is our correspondent jonny dymond. unsurprisingly we have seen a vote in favour of the ceasefire. you don't really vote against ceasefires, it would have been surprising. it sends a signal, i suppose, to america's allies that america is on board with this deal, even though it had nothing to do with its creation. and it sends a signal that the international community will aid and assist what

is supposed to be a process, not just an event. this isn't supposed to be, right, everybody stops firing at each other. this is supposed to lead the negotiations in four weeks' time in the kazakhstan capital of asta na, time in the kazakhstan capital of astana, which is supposed to lead towards peace. as you mention, all day today we have been watching claimant can't claim, bombardment of a particular area just outside damascus, the rebels who —— claim and counterclaim. the rebels claim they have kept the ceasefire but the bombardment didn't stop. this ceasefire, which is not total, is an very, very shaky ground. not all of the rebel groups or even signed up. what is it going to take to hold the piece, such as it is, to get to those talks? i mean, how many roads must a man walk down‘s it's almost impossible to once. because, as you say, the syrian conflict is such a patchwork of different groups. 0nly one set of groups, i think, can

probably describe them as the so—called moderate rebels, or involved in the deal that was engineered between turkey, which backs that the rebel side, and russia, which has been supporting president assad. 0utside russia, which has been supporting president assad. outside of the deal, so—called islamic state, the kurdish full system control the large swathes of territory in north of the country. much more radical islamist groups, hezbollah, the shi'ite group from over the border in lebanon. we wait to see if another fire breaks out just in lebanon. we wait to see if another fire breaks outjust as this one is being tempered down. some of the groups involved in the vote at the groups involved in the vote at the un have said, you have got to provide access for humanitarian aid, we need to have independent monitors. how likely are those two things going to happen?” monitors. how likely are those two things going to happen? i think from where we are at the moment, independent monitors on what part of this is filed deal. humanitarian aid. we have to see if the ceasefire holds —— independent monitors are not part of the ceasefire deal. that's not forget, the un have lost

people and material very recently in attacks which were blamed on the syrian regime and its trucks after it had been giving guarantee of safe passage. they will be wary of sending aid in the areas which seems to have a very shaky military situation. thank you. at least 28 people have been killed in two bomb explosions at a busy market in baghdad. more than 50 others were wounded in the blasts, which happened in the early morning near shops in the mainly shia al—sinak district. the so—called islamic state group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which it says was carried out by two militants wearing suicide vests. more than 100 of britain's 0lympic and paralympic stars have been recognised in the new year honours list, with knighthoods for andy murray and mo farah. the tennis world number one has capped off a year which saw him win wimbledon and olympic gold for a second time. katherine grainger, britain's most decorated female 0lympian, has become a dame, as has heptathlete jessica ennis—hill. there's also a knighthood for the gold medal—winning paralympian lee pearson. there were also some notable names

honoured from the worlds of arts and entertainment. among them, there's a knighthhood for the knotty ash funnyman ken dodd, as our entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba reports. i'm full of plumptiousness. how tickled i am... he's been one of britain's favourite entertainers for more than half a century. now ken dodd has received a knighthood. i said to the fellow, "excuse me, can you help me out?" he said, certainly, which way did you come in? you don't get bigger than this. i've played a lot of big theatres. but this is it, this is "the" day. i'm very, very proud. the bucket residence, the lady of the house speaking. actress patricia routledge — she's been made a dame. kinks frontman ray davies said he felt humility and joy to become sir ray.

a knighthood, too, for award—winning actor mark rylance. bond actress naomie harris becomes an 0be. figures from fashion and design have also been recognised. american vogue editor anna wintour said she was touched to be made a dame. victoria beckham becomes an 0be for services to the fashion industry. the hillsborough independent panel was chaired by the former bishop of liverpool, jamesjones. he's now been knighted. 0bviously great pride, but mixed with sadness because of that enduring sadness of the families, who have continued to feel the loss of their loved ones at hillsborough. he's one of hundreds being recognised for their contribution across the uk. lizo mzimba, bbc news. joining me now from her home in melton mowbray is claire lomas, who has been awarded an mbe

for charitable and voluntary services to spinal injury research. claire, first of all, welcome. and congratulations. when did you find out? thank you very much. it was about five weeks ago, i got a letter in the post, i had to keep it quiet, it's been really difficult. it's brilliant to be able to say it now. i'm ready proud to get it. i'm sure you are. everybody says how shocked they are when the letter drops through the door. what was your reaction? it was a real surprise and a great boost to my fundraising. it spurs me on to raise as much money asi spurs me on to raise as much money as i can and hopefully secure plans in the near future. you have raised nearly half £1 million, i think. tell us what you have raised it for and why? i have raised £575,000 now, with lots of plans for next year as well. and i've done it to help cure

paralysis. mainly for the spinal injury foundation, who are doing incredible work. it's a really exciting time. it's not bad just getting walking together. but neck injuries, being able to feed themselves or even getting off a ventilator and breathe themselves. my ventilator and breathe themselves. my life changed in this by second 9.5 years ago. it took a little while to adapt, but i find new things. i have become a speaker and funds raised. it felt at the time it was the end of the world, but i'd never have the things i have now, certainly not an mbe. we have been looking at those pictures of you walking in that incredible robotic suit that enabled you to complete the london marathon, the only person to ever do that. tell us what happened to you, what was your injury? i had a horse riding accident. i had got the highest level and is sport of eventing, it was a huge part of my life. i was a chiropractor as well. both things i

couldn't go back to. it was just a freak accident. but wonderful mistake turned everything upside down. a spinal injury effects everything from your entry level down. it's been really tough. since then i've met my husband, got my little girl who is five and another one due in february. and i walked the great north run in september, and did the london marathon four yea rs and did the london marathon four years ago, i did it in five days when i was 16 weeks programme. at times i didn't think i was going to make that, but it was a huge relief to see the finish on the actual race day. they let me have a huge star to five days, that was amazing. -- ahead start. you are reckoned to be an incredible speaker, inspiring people to think about what they can do rather than what they can't. how did you turn it around from those really dark times shortly after you are injured? i mean, everybody thinks because challenges, the london marathon although great north run, different cycle challenges and things i have done, but actually

just getting out of bed when you have nothing to get up for work the ha rd est have nothing to get up for work the hardest times. the way i got through it was by taking every little opportunity. even just going it was by taking every little opportunity. evenjust going out it was by taking every little opportunity. even just going out for lunch with friends in those early days, when you didn't feel like it, it was very easy to reject things and not just it was very easy to reject things and notjust get out there. i have made myself. that was the big bit to get through and have the better times as raised the money and find a new career and have a family. so, yeah, i know that i am lucky and i couldn't have done what i did without the huge support from a lot of people, friends, family and even strangers. i also that you have made you on the lot and you have to take the opportunities to make things happen, really. claire, it is fantastic news and richly deserved. thank you for talking to us about it. and enjoy your new year's eve, however you choose to spend it. claire lomax mbe, thank you very much. the queen will decide tomorrow whether she feels well enough to attend a new year's day church service at sandringham. she's been struck down over christmas by a heavy cold. the queen also had to miss

the christmas day church service, which other members of the royal family attended. it's expected a decision will be made tomorrow morning. if you're staying up to welcome in the new year, then you'll have a bit longer to wait, as a "leap second" will be added to this year's countdown to compensate for a slowdown in the earth's rotation. the extra second will occur as clocks strike midnight and the change is needed because standard time lags behind atomic clocks. here's our science correspondent, rebecca morelle. big ben tolls. this new year's eve, you have a tiny bit longer to enjoy the celebrations. an extra second is being added to the world's time. and it's all because of a very slight wobble in the earth's rotation. 0ur planet speeds up and slows down as it spins. so while a single rotation equates to one day, some days end up being a tiny fraction longer or shorter than others. and gradually the earth's time drifts out of sync with our clocks.

right now, that difference has grown too large, so just before the clocks strike midnight, an extra second is being added to bring everything back into phase. it's the 27th leap second since they were introduced in the 1970s, but there have been calls to abolish them. communications networks, financial markets and computer software all rely on extremely precise timekeeping, and some say that having to reprogram an extra second puts them at risk. 0thers warn that without leap seconds, over thousands of years, the earth's time and our clocks will grow more and more off—kilter — so much so that one day your watch might say it's midnight as the sun is starting to rise. rebecca morelle, bbc news. let's ta ke let's take a look at the weather forecast with sarah keith lucas. good evening. the final day of 2016 has been a fairly cloudy, relatively

mild one. we have had some rain in the north, too. this was the sunset earlier on in the evening taken by a weather watcher in york. rain around in some parts in the evening. rain across northern ireland and southern scotla nd across northern ireland and southern scotland in the next few hours. the cold front will think its way south as we had ever close to midnight, in the parts of northern england, newcastle towards manchester it will be rain by the time we get to midnight. further north, wintry showers coming in on the breeze. risk of icy conditions across the roads in the north of scotland. further south across england and wales, mostly cloudy over the next few hours. a band of rain brings outbreaks. to the south of that, quite a lot of loud, a bit of mist and merc around. relatively dry conditions if you are heading out for the fireworks. things turn colder from the law. as the cold front colder from the law. as the cold fro nt ste ps colder from the law. as the cold front steps south on new year's day, —— turned colder from the north.

front steps south on new year's day, —— turned colderfrom the north. we will see a return of the cold arctic weather. we will see rain across the south—west, wales, the netherlands and east anglia. the far south—east is try to start the day, although the rain will move in later on. crisp, frosty and cold. we will see wintry showers continuing on the cold northerly breeze across the north of scotland. if we take a look at new year's day, we will see the rain lingering for a good part of the day. the likes of the midlands and the south—east of england. elsewhere, a return to clear conditions with wintry sunshine and a risk of showers turning wintry, particularly over the hills of scotland, perhaps the north york moors as well. temperatures cooler than previous days. eventually we will lose the wet weather from the south. then we are all in the clearer skies with the cold arctic winds bringing wintry showers the northern and north—eastern parts of the country. a widespread frost as we had through to monday. monday is

a largely dry and quite a bright they often the morning of frost has cleared away, we will see some wintry showers for exposed northern and north—eastern parts of the country. most places dry and bright. in the sunshine, temperatures of 3-6d. in the sunshine, temperatures of 3—6d. goodbye for now. new year celebrations are underway across the world. many cities have stepped up security with concrete harriers blocking of central squares to prevent attacks like the recent ones in berlin and nice. in cities including london, thousands of extra police will also be on duty, as helena lee now reports. sydney, australia. 0ne sydney, australia. one of the first major cities to welcome in 2017. the harbour bridge the focus of the spectacular display. soon after, it was hong kong's term. and this was

the party. in london, they are preparing for the night celebrations. the met police said it has not had any specific intelligence to point to an attack, but they looked at what happened in berlin and nice and adjusted their plans. there will be more than 3000 visible police officers present tonight. as in the past, there will be officers with firearms. but the key thing is to strike the balance. none of us wants to disrupt the enjoyment. all of us want to have on new year's eve. we can't allow the bad guys to spoil our way of life. in other european cities, including berlin, security has been stepped up. in her new year's eve address, the german chancellor to, angela merkel, acknowledged the threat her country faces. in its sights for many years. in 2016 it attacked us in wurzburg, asbach and just a few days ago

in the christmas market here in berlin. other political leaders sending new year messages included donald trump. he tweeted: around the world millions of people are getting ready to celebrate their new year's eve, welcoming in 2017 in style. 0ur correspondentjonathan blake is in central london now, no signs of the crowds staying away tonight? just in the last half an hour, the first of the hundred thousand of people who have tickets to watch the display have started filling the viewing area is here on the embankment and across at the river

thames. that heavy police presence is really a reassuring to the people watching the display but also a reminder of the security threat. as for the display itself, 12 minutes carefully synchronised to a carefully synchronised to a carefully chosen soundtrack which will pay tribute to some of the artists we have lost. there will be 50,000 individual explosions and it all kicks off as big ben chimes midnight. the new year's honours list has been dominated by britain's 0lympians and paralympians. there are knighthoods for andy murray and mo farah. and from the world of entertainment there's a knighthood for knotty ash funny man ken dodd. 0ur entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba has the details. game, set, match, murray. ending the year with a win on the court and with a knighthood to his name, the title sir andy, though, could take some getting used to. i feel more still like andy murray.

it feels, obviously, more normal to me, but it's obviously a big honour and i'm happy with that, a nice way to finish or start the new year. gold for great britain again! olympic champion mo farah says his knighthood is a dream come true. london 2012 gold medallist jessica ennis—hill has become a dame, as has rower katherine grainger, after five medals from five 0lympics. in the world of entertainment, one of britain's's favourite performers ken dodd has received a knighthood. i said to the fella i said, excuse me, can you help me out? he said certainly, which way did you come in? the best day ever, you can't get better than this. i've played lots of big theatres, but this is it, this is the day, yes. i'm very, very proud. laughter the bucket residencs, lady of the house speaking. actress patricia routledge, she's been made a dame. kinks front man ray davies said he felt humility

and joy to become sir ray. a knighthood, too, for award—winning actor mark rylance. victoria beckham becomes an 0be for services to the fashion industry. the hillsborough independent panel was chaired by the former bishop of liverpool, jamesjones. he's now been knighted. 0bviously great pride, but mixed with sadness because of that enduring sadness of the families, who have continued to feel the loss of their loved ones at hillsborough. he's one of hundreds being recognised for their contributions to their communities across the uk. the united nations has unanimously approved a resolution endorsing a ceasefire in the syrian civil war. russia and turkey brokered the truce. it's the third ceasefire this year as part of efforts to end nearly six years of fighting in syria. so—called islamic state has said it

carried out two bombings at a busy market in the iraqi capital, baghdad this morning, killing at least twenty—eight people. more than fifty other people were wounded. a third blast happened later in east of the city. 0ur correspondent jonny dymond reports. for iraqis, 2016 ends as it began — with bloodshed and grief. just one of the shoppers and traders slaughtered on a saturday morning. there were two bombs, one in a car park's shop, then another when a crowd had formed around the first. fathers, and sisters, and mothers, and brothers. translation: when we heard the explosion, we found many people killed and wounded, whom we rescued and sent to the hospital. why does this happen in iraq,

why to the iraqi people? to the north, the battle to take mosul, iraq's second city, from so—called islamic state continues. it's a long slog, and for many residents the only way is out. three more months, iraq's government says, the action might take. maybe next year will be better, but many iraqis are giving up, as they flee their battered city with nothing but bags and suitcases. in today's football, chelsea continued the remarkable run that's taken them to the top of the premier league, with a 11—2 win over stoke. liverpool and manchester city both had the chance to close the gap on them in the late kick off. the match at anfield finished 1—0. a short time ago with liverpool winning by one goal to nil, thanks to a goal scored afterjust 7 minutes. it means liverpool stay second — now 6 points behind leaders chelsea.

in scotland it was the turn of old firm rivals celtic and rangers who met at ibrox at lunchtime — as our sports correspondent andy swiss reports. it remains one of football's fiercest and noisiest rivalries. amid the customary cacophony, though, a minute's silence in memory of the 66 fans who died in a crush at ibrox in 1971. after that reflection, time for the action. celtic, the runaway league leaders, but thanks to kenny miller's perfect timing, it was rangers that seized the initiative. celtic soon responded, though, and in thunderous fashion. mousa dembele's blistering volley levelling it up at the break. and just after it, celtic should have been ahead. dembele denied by the bar, scott sinclair the side netting. would it be one of those days? with barely 20 minutes left, finally their pressure paid off. for sinclair this time unmissable, celtic seemingly unstoppable. rangers did nearly equalise, miller agonisingly close,

but celtic are now 19 points clear. it might not even be january, but the title is already surely theirs. there's more throughout the evening on the bbc news channel, but for now on bbc1 its time for the news where you are. goodbye. hello. this is bbc news.